Twisted Sister Tour Canceled as Frontman Dee Snider Exits Band With Emotional Statement

Twisted Sister's longtime lead singer Dee Snider is bowing out of the band, canceling all upcoming shows for their highly anticipated 50th Anniversary Celebration Performance. In an open letter posted to the Twisted Sister website, Snider gives fans a rare glimpse into the personal life of the heavy metal rocker.

"A lifetime of legendarily aggressive performing has taken its toll on Dee Snider's body and soul," the statement begins, "he can no longer push the boundaries of rock 'n' roll fury like he has done for decades." The letter reveals that the now 70-year-old musician has been living with degenerative arthritis and is unable to perform without experiencing pain. Snider has also undergone "several surgeries" in the past regarding his chronic pain, and recently discovered separate underlying heart issues.

Now, as a result, Snider is stepping down from his position as the Twisted Sister frontman. "The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me," he said, "I'd rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self."

Departure Ends Historic Run for Metal Band

Twisted Sister began performing in 1972, with Snider joining as the band's lead vocalist and sole songwriter in 1976. The band gained critical acclaim in 1984 with the release of their multi-platinum album Stay Hungry, featuring both "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock," two songs heralded as some of the most influential in the heavy metal genre. Through multiple break ups and separations, Twisted Sister continued performing on-and-off throughout the 80s, 90s, and 2000s — leading up to the 50th Anniversary Celebration Performance that was slated to begin this April in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Fellow Twisted Sister bandmates and founding members Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda announced the cancellation of all upcoming shows in a separate statement alongside Snider's open letter. "Due to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Twister Sister's lead singer Dee Snider brought on by a series of health challenges, the band has been forced to cancel all shows scheduled," it reads.

The 2026 tour would have been Twisted Sister's first since 2016. And while Snider has officially hung up his microphone, it's unclear if the other bandmates will continue without him. "The future of Twisted Sister will be determined in the next several weeks," French and Ojeda's statement concludes, "stay tuned for updates."

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